Festive FOMO

“Hey, want to come to this place, pop by that place, have a mince pie, sausage roll, eggnog, mulled wine – oh, and you have to try my world-beating Christmas cake…”

And you’ll probably say yes – because who can resist?
You’ll feast like it’s your last supper, drink like hydration is for January and tell yourself, it’s Christmas – it doesn’t count.

But here’s the thing: it does count – and not just in calories.

This is the time of year when FOMO — that fear of missing out — hits full strength. Suddenly, every event feels mandatory, every canapé feels sacred and every glass of fizz feels like the key to “joining in.”

Apparently, we cram 44% more social occasions into December than any other month. No wonder we’re frazzled.

But festive FOMO? It’s not your friend — especially if you want to finish the year feeling sane, energised and vaguely like yourself.

How Festive FOMO Gets You Every Time

You head to the party with good intentions. You’ll eat sensibly. You’ll skip dessert. You’ll “be good.”

Then you see the buffet.

You tell yourself you’re fine… but that inner voice whispers, What if I never get these sausage rolls again? (Spoiler: you will. They’ll be back in Tesco by Tuesday.)

That subtle fear of missing out — of saying no — flips a switch in your brain. Suddenly, it’s all or nothing. You eat everything in sight, feel rubbish and spend the next morning regretting it.

Sound familiar? You’re not weak — you’re wired that way.

Our brains are built to overvalue potential losses and undervalue long-term gains.
So the fear of missing a mince pie feels bigger than the joy of waking up without the sugar hangover.

The Truth: You’re Not Actually Missing Out

So what are you really missing when you say no?

A few sweet, boozy, carby moments — sure. But what do you gain when you don’t?

• Steadier energy

   

• Better sleep

   

• More self-trust

   

• Less guilt

   

  And let’s be honest — half the time, festive FOMO is just a socially acceptable excuse to let go of responsibility for a few weeks. (“It’s Christmas, it doesn’t count” is the December version of “I’ll start on Monday.”)

How to Fix Festive FOMO

Here’s how to enjoy the season:

1. Don’t Diet in December
   Seriously. Now’s not the time.
   Instead, aim to maintain. That means enjoying yourself without turning every event into an all-you-can-eat farewell tour.
2. Watch Your Portions
   Especially with the fast carbs — white bread, pastry, potatoes, cake, biscuits. Take a little, savour it and move on.
3. Don’t Go Out Hungry
   Heading to a party starving is asking for trouble. Have something small beforehand — protein and slow carbs (like nut butter on oatcakes or cottage cheese) — so you don’t end up inhaling the buffet.
4. Out of Sight, Out of Mind
   Hide the family chocolate tin. If it’s on the counter, you’ll eat it. It’s the “see food, eat food” rule in action.
5. Remember: Saying No Isn’t Rude
   Refusing food doesn’t mean you’re being awkward or judgmental. It just means you don’t want another sausage roll — and that’s okay.

The Real Joy of the Season

You don’t need to eat and drink your way through December to prove you’re part of the fun. You can still celebrate, connect, and enjoy — without the hangover, the guilt, or the January regret.

FOMO tells you you’ll miss out if you say no.

But saying no might be exactly what helps you feel good enough to say yes to the parts that actually matter.

Ready for your own reset? My Reset Programme is designed around my 5 pillars to help you clear what’s weighing you down.